a stranger's gaze

what does it mean?

does it mean, for instance, 

that you are attracted to me?

as i (sometimes) wish you were

(if you look nice enough)

and are going to send me 

flowers and chocolates to work?

(as the movies say)

or does it mean

for another instance

that you are just

unabashedly looking

because you can

and you believe

or pretend to believe

that i am just feigning discomfort

because i (always) want to be looked at
when actually i am withering

looking myself over

checking if my hair is funny 

or a button undone

finally sighing

and end up walking

with a stiff stride

my face turned away from you

to carefully avoid the gaze

at the end of the day, stranger

i don't want to be gazed at

or "admired" in your language

if admiration comes
at the price of holding my head
so low

that i do not see the way ahead

i just want to walk down the road

and get to my destination



fellow poets on stranger's gaze:
yugzeetah: stranger, my stranger
kay:  नहेर त्यसरी